This project titled Advocates in Medicine Pathway 2.0, seeks to improve representation in medicine in North Central Wisconsin by addressing barriers to medical school for rural and underrepresented medicine students from this region. Strong doctor-patient relationships are crucial to providing excellent health care and such relationships are best facilitated by having physicians that represent the people that make up the local community. Students from rural, underserved communities are most likely to return to those areas to practice medicine, but these students often face barriers to matriculating to medical school.
The Challenge
Strong doctor-patient relationships are crucial to providing excellent health care and such relationships are best facilitated by having physicians that represent the people that make up the local community. In North Central Wisconsin, where a significant portion of the population is classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), and the city of Wausau has the highest Hmong per capita population in the country, there is a distinct need for physicians who can provide culturally competent care. Students from rural, underserved communities are most likely to return to those areas to practice medicine, but these students often face barriers to matriculating to medical school including financial limitations, limited exposure to medicine, lack of academic opportunities and preparation and lack of mentors.
Project Goals
This project seeks to improve representation in medicine in North Central Wisconsin by addressing barriers to medical school for rural and underrepresented medicine students from this region and providing knowledge and experience for students to help them become competitive medical school applicants.
Progress Update
Over one year of funding, the Advocates in Medicine Pathway (AMP) program made progress in expanding access to medical career pathways for students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The program successfully recruited a cohort of 10 undergraduate students, with six completing all program requirements and reaching graduation. Participants engaged in nearly 500 hours of comprehensive programming, including advising sessions, MCAT preparation, mentorship, clinical shadowing, community health immersion and internships, equipping them with the skills and experiences needed to pursue medical school.
The program demonstrated measurable academic and professional outcomes. Students completed 69 hours of MCAT preparation and four full-length practice exams, with all participants showing improvement and an average score increase of 12 points. Five students submitted medical school applications during this reporting period, with additional participants planning to apply in future cycles. These outcomes reflect increased readiness, confidence and competitiveness among participants.
All major program components were successfully implemented, including eight structured advising sessions, a case-based “Wicked Problems in Medicine” course, five application preparation workshops and hands-on community health experiences. Six students completed community health internships; eight participated in physician shadowing and nine engaged in community health immersion activities. These experiences provided meaningful exposure to rural and underserved healthcare settings while strengthening participants’ understanding of community health needs.
Beyond individual outcomes, the program contributed to broader community and systems-level impact. Through 30 meetings and events engaging approximately 150 participants, the project strengthened partnerships across academic institutions, healthcare organizations and community partners. New partnerships expanded opportunities for job shadowing and internships, while existing collaborations with academic partners were sustained and deepened. While student retention presented challenges due to the intensity of the program and external barriers faced by participants, the project team responded by refining program components, increasing flexibility in placements and integrating additional supports such as mental health advising. These adaptations have strengthened the program and positioned it for continued success in future years.
